The Christian Reward

Life is about investments. We invest in our work because we believe it worthwhile to earn a living. We invest part of that living in retirement funds, stocks, and bonds because we believe it worthwhile to plan ahead for our retirements. We invest in our education and the education of others because we believe it worthwhile to gain knowledge and be trained for an industry. We invest in family because we believe it worthwhile to have those close family connections. We invest in property because we believe it worthwhile to not only have money but equity. We invest because we believe, or at least hope, the return will be greater than the investment.

Jesus instructed a stranger to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and follow after Himself if he wanted to be complete or perfect. The young stranger went away grieving, and the disciples now ask about the return on the sacrificial investments they have made for Christ’s cause.

Matthew 19:27-30

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”

Leaving everything (v. 27)

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

Peter asks the question we all want to ask Jesus, “Is following You worth it?” What will be left for us since we have left everything to follow you, Jesus? What reward belongs to those who truly love Jesus and have sacrificed their work, school, income, safety, stuff or anything else so they could really follow Jesus? What reward is there for those who have denied themselves, taken up their crosses, and followed Jesus (cf. 16:14)? Peter’s question is sincere. Jesus does not rebuke Peter for asking such a question. Perhaps Peter’s question is a healthy question to ponder. What treasure is being built up in heaven since we have rejected building up treasure on this earth (cf. 6:19-20). Will we see a return on our sacrificial investments, or are we selfish to think in such terms?

Gaining everything (v. 29-30)

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The first part of Jesus’s answer applies particularly to the twelve apostles. Jesus confirms that His apostles have followed Him. Therefore, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throng, the twelve apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Instead of rebuking his disciples for asking such a seemingly selfish question, Jesus confirms their status and reveals the role He is giving them at the coming of the kingdom. Jesus gives a timing reference and tells the apostles what they will do.

When will the apostles become judges over Israel? In the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne. Once again, we get to peer into Jesus’s eschatology. What is the regeneration? Is Jesus talking about the regeneration of His disciples, of Himself, or of the whole world? Regeneration is the word παλιγγενεσαι, which literally translates to “reincarnation.” Prophets like Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would come to make all things new (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7; 65:7; Revelation 21:5). The regeneration Jesus is taking about in this passage is a significant, single regeneration—signified by the definite article. The regeneration Jesus is talking about, here, is the renewal of the whole earth like the Old Testament prophets foretold. When is the regeneration? The regeneration is when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne. When will the Son of Man, Jesus, sit on His glorious throne? Matthew will answer in Chapter 28, verse 18:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

He will sit on His glorious throne at His death, burial, and resurrection. That is when the regeneration of the earth will commence. The renewal of the world does not wait to commence until 70 AD. It certainly does not wait to commence at some time a few thousand years later. Jesus accomplishes the renewal of the whole world through His death and resurrection, which means the new age starts at the moment of His resurrection.

In the regeneration, the apostles will sit as judges over Israel—during their lifetimes on this earth following Christ’s ascension. We will see their role in the kingdom described in the book of Acts. The twelve take the Gospel to Israel and become the first elders in the Jewish-Christian church.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”

The second part of Jesus’s answer applies to everyone. Anyone who leaves anything for Christ’s name’s sake will receive many times as much and will inherit eternal life. Those who put themselves first will be last. Those who put themselves last will be first in the kingdom of heaven. We often hear that Jesus is okay with us pursuing our own lives, education, careers, and stuff at His expense. The opposite is true. His disciples count all as loss for the sake of knowing Him. There will be a day when He repays us many times what we gave up for His name’s sake—not because He has to but because He is good. Not everyone is called to give up everything. We do, however, recognize that we are stewards of what we do have and count it as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. Whether a job, career, education, home, any material thing, or life itself, what we have is the Lord’s to do with as He wills for His glory. Christ’s system is by His grace, not our merits, and by calling. The greatest reward for those who are called is eternal life. May we build up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. We dare not misuse Christ’s promise to manipulate others into giving—for, the call to generosity is upon every Christian and every local church.